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Dear Doc, My Dad And Mom Are 70 And 63
Question: Dear Doc,
My dad and mom are 70 and 63 years respectively.
Dad - 5ft 6 inch, weight 50 kg, very slim, no fat and cholestrol. I check his heart with ECG every 6 months and echo every 1 year. Last ECG was done 1 month back and was normal and last echo was done in 2018 and normal. He is very active and till now walks 2-3 kms a day.
Mom - 5ft 4 inch, weight 54 kg, Slim ,no fat, Diabetic for 16 years. Diabetes under control. I also get her checked with 2 ECGs every year and 1 Echo.
My question for both
1. IS it necessary to have a Echo done every year , as we really struggle with medical practitioners not interested in doing echo without any symptoms. But it feel its safe. Please advice.
2. Both are in good physical shape and are very very active. Lot of exercise every day.
My dad and mom are 70 and 63 years respectively.
Dad - 5ft 6 inch, weight 50 kg, very slim, no fat and cholestrol. I check his heart with ECG every 6 months and echo every 1 year. Last ECG was done 1 month back and was normal and last echo was done in 2018 and normal. He is very active and till now walks 2-3 kms a day.
Mom - 5ft 4 inch, weight 54 kg, Slim ,no fat, Diabetic for 16 years. Diabetes under control. I also get her checked with 2 ECGs every year and 1 Echo.
My question for both
1. IS it necessary to have a Echo done every year , as we really struggle with medical practitioners not interested in doing echo without any symptoms. But it feel its safe. Please advice.
2. Both are in good physical shape and are very very active. Lot of exercise every day.
Brief Answer:
No, it's not necessary to have yearly echo
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's not necessary to have yearly echo in both parents. Once in 5 years is enough, however if any having any symptoms like chest heaviness on exertion or ecg changes then should have an echo done. Yearly ecg is enough.
However, it's better to have a screening test once like treadmill test or CT coronary angiography (it's better for your mother) to rule out possibility of baseline ischemic heart disease and should be repeated every 5 yearly especially in your mother due to diabetes.
So overall, at baseline your mother should preferably undergo CT coronary angiography (TMT is alternative) and TMT for father is enough. And yearly ecg is enough, echo once in 5 years is enough.
Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
No, it's not necessary to have yearly echo
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's not necessary to have yearly echo in both parents. Once in 5 years is enough, however if any having any symptoms like chest heaviness on exertion or ecg changes then should have an echo done. Yearly ecg is enough.
However, it's better to have a screening test once like treadmill test or CT coronary angiography (it's better for your mother) to rule out possibility of baseline ischemic heart disease and should be repeated every 5 yearly especially in your mother due to diabetes.
So overall, at baseline your mother should preferably undergo CT coronary angiography (TMT is alternative) and TMT for father is enough. And yearly ecg is enough, echo once in 5 years is enough.
Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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